i l I
ment. The pai-k is extensive, the rile s numorons, and the variety of delightful distant
views embrace every kind of scenery. The pleasure-grounds are laid out on just principles,
and in a most judicious m an n er; and there is an excellent range of hothouses,
with a collection of rare plants, remarkable for their variety, cleanliness, and handsome
growth. (Gard. Mag., vol. viii. p. 282.) Mrs. Trollope, speaking of this villa, says,
“ Hyde Park is the magnificent seat of Dr. H o sa ck : here the misty summit of the distant
Kaatskill begins to form the outline of the landscape; and it is hardly possible to
imagine a more beautiful place.” {Domestic Manners o fth e Americans, vol. ii. p. 206 )
m . Stuai-t speaks in raptures of “ the view over the most beautiful of all beautifnl rivers,
from the magnificent teirace in the front of Dr. Hosack’s house, situated in the most
enviable of the desfrable situations on the river.” Hyde Park, he says, “ is quite a show
place, m the English sense of the word.” {Three Years, §-c., vol. ii. p. 549.) After tho
death of Dr. Hosack, the place lost some of its attractions, but was still far from suffering
from neglect.
843. Woodlawn. There is hardly an acre of Manhatten Island, says Mi's Trollope
“ but v j a t shows some pretty villa or stately mansion. The most chosen of these are
on the North and East Rivers, to whose margins their lawns descend. Among these
perhaps the loveliest is one (Woodlawn) situated in the beautiful village of Bloomingdale’
Here, within the space of sixteen acres, almost eveiy vaa-iety of garden scenery may be
found. To describe aU its diversity of hill and dale, of wood and lawn, of rock and river
would be m vain, for I never saw any thing like it.” {Dom. Man., ^c., vol. ii. p. 183.) ’
844. Waltham House {fig. 230.), the property of Theodore Lyman, in tlie state of
Massachusetts, is situated in a very flourishing countiy, about nine miles from Boston,
The grounds round the house consist of a lawn, of a mile in length, in front, upon wliich
there are many fine oaks, English and American elms, linden, and other valuable forest
trees. A deep and clear stream o f water, vaiying in breadth, runs the whole length of
the lawn, and afterwards falls into Charles River. There is an extensive park, containing
about forty deer, principally of the Bengal b re ed ; to the left and rear of the house are
the kitchen-garden, grapeiy, gi*eenhouse, hothouse, wall for fniit, &c. This place, in
1840, was StiU remarkable for its high keeping. {Downing’s Landscape Gardening.)
845. The neighbourhood o f Philadelphia is rendered interesting by a succession of
gentlemen’s seats on the Delaware, which, says Mrs. Trollope, “ if less elaborately
finished in architecture and garden gi’ounds than the lovely villas on the Thames, are
stiU beautiful objects to gaze upon as you float rapidly past, on the broad silveiy stream
that washes their lawns. They present a picture of wealth and enjoyment that accords
well with the noble city to which they are an appendage.” {Dom. Man. o f the Amer.,
vol. ii. p. 153.)
846. The seat o f fhe Count de Survilliers {Joseph Bonaparte), near Bordentoivn, on the
N ew Jersey shore of the Delaware, is in the midst of an extensive tract of land, on which
the ex-monarch has built several houses, which are occupied by Erench tenants. The
country is very fiat, but a terrace of two sides has been raised, commanding a fine reach
of tlie river. A t the point where this ten-ace forms a right angle, a lofty chapel has been
erected, which looks veiy much like an observatory. The highest part of this building
presents, in every direction, the appearance of an immense cross; the transept being formed
by the projection of an ample balcony, which surrounds a tower. {Ibid., vol. ii. p. 154 )
847. Monte Video, the residence of Daniel Wordsworth, Esq., says Mr. Stuart,
“ stands m a very fine situation, not less than 600 feet above the Connecticut River, and
its beautiful meadow scenery. The approach to the house is about three miles in length,
and IS earned over a succession of small hills finely wooded. There is a handsome piece
of water near the house, and a hiU behind i t ; from a tower on the top of which there is
a magnificent view, bounded by the hills of Massachusetts, of as rich and fertile a counti-v
as there is in the world, watered by a great river, the Connecticut, the windings of which
are all in sight. Advantage has certainly been taken of the natural heauties of the place
in laying it out— the road, the piece of water, and the grounds ; but nothing about the
place is kept in the handsome style of an English country residence. (Three Years, ÿc.,
Vol. i. p. 363.) This place, in 1840, was stül “ one of the prettiest residences in Coiinec-
ticut ” (Downing’s Landscape Gardening.) _ /. . . .a
848. Mount Vernon was Ae seat o f General Washington, “ first in peace, first in war, and
first in the hearts of his countrymen.” This noble residence is situated on .he “
the Potomac ; a magnificent river, which at the city of Washington ™kes a beautiful
sweep, and forms a sort of bay, round which the city is hmlt. Washington was buried
at Mount Vernon, and it is easy to distinguish from the river the cypresses that wave over
his strave.” (D . M . ofthe A ., vol ii. p. 306.) Mi'. Stuart informs us that the extent of tins
property is 10,000 acres. About five mües of the drive from Washington pass throngh
wooded ground belonging to the property. The situation of the house on a fine bank
of land above the Potomac, and the elevation and undulation of the neighhounng ground,
are altogether very dcsii'ahle, and afford great facilities for making Mount Vernon a
magnificLt place? but neither the house nor the offices, nor any pai't of the groimds
ai'C in any thing like good order. Eve rything seems to have remained unchanged, save
by time, since Washington died. The narrow path at the top of the bank abo-ve the
river, which was begun by him, just before he was earned off by sudden filness, r™«™® ™
its unfinished state. The house at Mount Vernon contains only one apartment which
would be considered good in Britain. (Three Years, ¿fc., vol. i. p. 397.)
849 Monticello, the seat of Jefferson, is situated on the sumimt of an eminence commanding
extensive prospects on aU sides. I t is ascended hy a spiral approach, laid out
hy the proprietor himself, and passing through fruit and ornamentM trees,
w?iieh were planted hy his own hands. The southern declivity of the hill is covered
with vineyards, the east and west sides by orchards, the north side by a forest, and the
champaign lands below are devoted to the culture of corn ™d tobacco. .
850. Leman Hill, near Phüadelphia. “ These gardens, Downing observes, 'when in
their perfection about ten years ago [th a t is, about 1830], were filled with a coUection
o fth e rarest and most costly exotics, as well as a great variety of fine native trees and
shrubs, which, interspersed with statues and busts, ponds, jets d eau, and watei'works of
fariou! descriptions: produced eertaiifiy a very briUiant, though decidedly artifle.M
effect. A n extensive range of hothouses, curious gi'ottoes and spring-houses, «®
eveiw other gardenesque structure, gave variety and interest to this celebrated spot, which
L T e L t the rapidly extending trees, and the mania for improvement there, as m
some of om' other cities, have now nearly destroyed and obhterated. (Downing s Landon
high « r o u n d , is a
very pretty place. I t is not large, or in any way magnificent, but the view from it is
cha?'ming? L d it has a wood behind, covering about 200 acres of broken gr»™««.
slopes down to a dark cold little river, so closely shut m by rocks and evei^eens that it
m iL t serve as a noonday bath for Diana and her nymphs. The whole of tffis ™ o d is
filled with wUd flowers, but such as wo chensh fondly m our gardens. (Dom. Man.,
^ ‘’i h t s t m i l f n is about two mUes from the most romantic point of the Potomac
rivci" and Virginia spreads her wild bnt beautifnl and most fertile paradise on the
opporitc shore. The Maryland side partakes o f th e same character, and displays an
aLonishing profusion of wild fruits and flowers. The walk from Stomngton to the falls
of the Potomac is through scenery that can hardly he caUed forest, paik, or g a id e n ,
but which partakes of aU three. Cedars, tuUp trees, planes, sumachs jumpers, and oaks
of various kinds, shade the path. Below are Judas trees, dogwood, azaleas, and wild
roses; whUe wUd vines [F iti s v u lp in a?], with their rich expansive leaves and ™eet
blossoms rivalling the mignonette in fragrance, cluster round the branches ; and strmv-
herries violets, anemones, heartsease, and wUd pinks htorally cover the ground. The
somid of the faUs is heai'd at Stomngton, and the gradual increase of this sound is one oi
the agreeable featrares of this delicious walk. A rumhlmg, turbid, angry little nvnJet,
called the Branch Creek, flows thi'ough evergreens and flowcrmg underwood, and is
crossed à plusieurs reprises by logs thrown from rock to rock. The thimdenng noise of
the still nfiseen faUs suggests an idea of danger while crossing these rude bndges, which
hardly belongs to them ; and, having reached the other side of the creek the walk continues,
under the shelter of evergi'ecns, another quarter of a mile and then emerges on
the rocky depths of an enormous river ; and so large are the black crags that enclose it,
that the thundering torrents of water rashing through over, and among the rocks of this
awful chasm, appeal' lost and swallowed up in it. (Ibta., -vol. ii. p. 4.)
853. A t Charleston the houses of the suburhs are, for the most part, sunounded by
gardens, in which orange trees with most splendid ripe ñ-uit, monthly roses in frill bloom,